Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

Though likely overlooked by most SUV shoppers, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg could be worth paying attention to if you're searching for a comfortable and well-trimmed crossover SUV with some luxury leanings. The Touareg has always been pretty well equipped, but this year's model goes even further as VW has added some previously optional features as standard. Every 2017 Touareg now has adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, a trailer hitch and an 8-inch touchscreen, and that's on top of last year's already quite extensive feature roster.

Big-league towing capacity and a classy interior are part of the deal, too. Volkswagen says the Touareg can tow up to 7,716 pounds when properly equipped, which is considerably more than most rivals. Inside, the cabin design is pretty conservative, but it's assembled and finished in a way that's evocative of what you'll find in a luxury-branded model. The Touareg also impresses with its quiet and smooth ride on the highway and composed stability when you're going around turns. A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and respectable off-road ability round out the Touareg's credentials.

The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is pricier than the average crossover, though, and that puts it between two classes when you consider the competition. On the high end are models such as the Acura MDX, BMW X5 and Lexus RX 350. These luxury-branded vehicles are arguably more prestigious, though likely not as well-equipped with features as the Touareg for similar money. On the other end are mainstream crossovers such as the Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner. These start out less expensive but have fully loaded versions with pricing similar to the Touareg's.

It's these top trim levels, such as the Ford Explorer Platinum and Grand Cherokee Summit, that you should pay the most attention to. They are just as well-equipped as the Touareg, and you can get them with more powerful or fuel-efficient engines, too. Overall, though, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is a crossover SUV that might have just the right amount of refinement to suit your taste.

Standard safety equipment on the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and post-collision automatic braking to ensure it remains in place after a crash. Other standard safety equipment includes a rearview camera, a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitoring system and a lane departure warning system. A 360-degree camera is standard on the top-level Executive trim.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the Touareg earned the best possible rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front-impact and side-impact tests, as well as a Good rating in the roof strength and seat/head restraint (whiplash protection) tests.

In Edmunds performance testing, during a simulated panic stop from 60 mph, a Touareg stopped in just 114 feet, which is excellent for its class.

2017 Volkswagen Touareg configurations

The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is a midsize, five-passenger SUV available in Sport w/Technology, Wolfsburg Edition and Executive trim levels.

No major options or packages are additionally offered for the Touareg.

Every 2017 Volkswagen Touareg comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. EPA-estimated fuel economy is19 mpg combined (17 city/23 highway), which is an average figure for this class of vehicle.

In Edmunds testing, a Touareg accelerated to 60 mph in an unremarkable 7.7 seconds. Most luxury crossovers or mainstream models with upgraded engines are quicker. VW says the Touareg can tow up to 7,716 pounds when properly equipped, however, which is exceptional for this type of vehicle.

Driving

The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg's V6 engine can feel strained during hard acceleration, and many rival crossovers are notably quicker. On the bright side, the eight-speed automatic transmission provides almost imperceptible upshifts along with responsive downshifts on demand. In general, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is pretty enjoyable to drive. It has responsive steering with plenty of road feel, and it stays stable and secure when you're going around turns. Luckily, none of this means it's uncomfortable on the highway. It's also quiet, smooth and confident over bumpy roads, all of which contribute to its luxury feel.

The Touareg is similarly competent off-road thanks to a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. That system makes up for most of the capability gap with competitors that have traditional low-range gearing. With a respectable amount of ground clearance and a compliant suspension, the Touareg powers over washboard roads and light-duty trails without breaking a sweat.

Interior

The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg's interior stakes out territory between top-level ordinary and entry-level luxury. A few luxury SUVs might look fancier inside, but the Touareg has high-quality materials and excellent build quality that's bolstered by tasteful wood and chrome accents along with simple, easy-to-use interfaces.

Compared to what you'll find in other Volkswagens, the Touareg's infotainment system is a bit outdated, but it still functions well. You get a standard touchscreen interface with a large screen and sharp graphics. Even better, it's easy to use. The Executive model's high-powered Dynaudio sound system is one of our favorites. Unfortunately, all Touaregs have Volkswagen's older proprietary media player interface plug, which isn't nearly as versatile as a regular USB port. The Touareg also comes without the latest smartphone integration systems such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The Touareg is strictly a two-row, five-passenger SUV, but its rear seat is roomy, with reclining seatbacks and a useful amount of sliding seat travel. Rear-seat legroom is competitive for a midsize SUV, while the seat bottom is high enough to give rear passengers both solid thigh support and a nice view out.

Behind the Tiguan's rear seats, there's 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the second row flat and you get 64 cubic feet of space. Though that's a few feet fewer than many rival crossovers, the Volkswagen's relatively boxy roof line makes the most of it.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg.

Most helpful consumer reviews

My 3rd Touareg!

Sterling D Johnson,01/14/2017

I owned 3 Tribeca Subaru and 1 Audi Q5; they were too small. The Touareg is just right; it doesn't bump my head on the lift gate. There is just my wife and me and for us it is a perfect fit. I was surprised at the good acceleration and disappointed with the low end torque since my two other Touaregs were the 3.0 diesels. I think the air resources agencies have an aim to get rid of diesels.

Perfect Car with Two Small Exceptions

Neil Hollans,10/07/2016

After having this car for a year, no issues and my previous comments stand...
This is my second Touareg after driving a 2005 into the ground. Huge improvements in interior luxury/features and acceleration. It's about the perfect car for my needs. Big enough to fit my family of five comfortably, though probably not for long drives. Impressive interior with very high quality parts and styling with beautiful huge oversized sunroof - looks like the Porsche Cayenne it is based on at almost half the price. Quick, steady acceleration for such a heavy car and great ride...I've been sneaking up to 80 or 85 mph accidentally a few times because it rides so smoothly. The two small issues are 1) no CD player (that is probably me resisting change) and 2) no USB port, just bluetooth. For the CD player there is a media port in the center console that I plugged in a portable CD player, but it's a bit cumbersome to use. For the USB I guess I can live with just the Bluetooth and an outlet, but you'd think they could drop a USB in the center console for easy charging. There's a regular outlet on the back of the console but it's not easy to access when driving. Maintenance and reliability are good so far - not a single issue in one year and 15,000 miles. Altogether this is an exceptional car that looks great, feels great, drives great and has about every feature you'd want. Highly recommend.

When I discovered VW was discontinuing the Touareg for the USA, I traded my 2016 for a 2017. These are great cars with tremendous specs. The replacement Atlas is like going from a nice car to a pedestrian model. I’d never buy the Atlas, feels junky. VW has basically forced Touareg buyers into its luxury lines, either Porsche or Audi. VW is back to the Beetle philosophy and is segmenting the market.

2017 Volkswagen Touareg video

TRAVIS LANGNESS: I'm Edmunds editor, Travis Langness, and this is an expert rundown of the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg. The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg carries over essentially unchanged from the previous model year. And when it was first introduced almost a decade ago, this was a pretty borderline luxury vehicle. The fit and finish the interior is really nice, but the truth is the class of vehicles around it has become super impressive over its lifespan. And it's looking less and less like a class leader. The Touareg still has a couple of great things going for it. It's got a massive tow rating and maxes out at over 7,700 pounds, which is more than most mid-sized trucks can say. So that's pretty impressive for the class. In the back there's plenty of room in the second row. There's not a third row available, that's another ding against the Touareg. A lot of SUV's in this class have an available third row, even if it's cramped. And up front there's a lot of likeable materials, there's comfortable seats both in the front and the back seat. A lot of good comfort for adults. You can definitely fit four people in there. But the infotainment system is a little bit out of date. Even though it does come with some of the latest stuff like Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, the graphics certainly aren't as appealing as some competitors. And neither are some of the buttons in the dash. They feel a little bit old. Bottom line with the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is that it's got an impressive tow rating. It's got decent interior space, and definitely a likeable interior. But we recommend taking a look at more modern competitors. Something like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Toyota Forerunner, or even the Dodge Durango. For more Edmunds expert rundowns, click the link to subscribe.

2017 Volkswagen Touareg Expert Rundown

If you're shopping for a five-seat luxury SUV, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg should be on your short list. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.

Get more for your trade-in

If you're shopping for a five-seat luxury SUV, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg might not be on your short list, but it should be. The Touareg offers a luxury-leaning cabin and a long list of features, plus it's capable and very enjoyable to drive, attributes we'd expect from a premium-brand SUV. That said, its price reflects its stature. Though less expensive than premium-branded SUVs, the Touareg costs more than most mainstream players.

The Touareg's interior reflects its "tweener" status. The cabin may not look quite as fancy as some luxury-branded SUVs, but the Touareg matches them for build quality and material choices. Its easy-to-use control layout is tastefully trimmed with wood and chrome. The infotainment system also is easy to use, though it's not as good as the more modern system found in other Volkswagens. It lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, for example, and it uses a proprietary phone plug instead of a regular USB port, which means you have to purchase connectors from the dealer. The Touareg offers a roomy reclining backseat, and while cargo volume trails the competition, the boxy roofline makes the most out of what space it has. The Touareg offers plenty of active safety features, including blind-spot and lane-departure warning and a collision detection system with automatic braking.

All Touaregs are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The EPA estimates the Touareg's fuel economy at 19 mpg combined (17 city/23 highway), which is about average for this class of vehicle. The Edmunds-timed zero-to-60-mph run of 7.7 seconds is unremarkable; many of the Touareg's rivals offer optional engines that provide quicker acceleration. But the Touareg's towing capacity, which is 7,716 pounds when properly equipped, is significantly better than the competition. Though the engine can feel strained under hard acceleration, the transmission shifts smoothly and the chassis is great, with steering that gives plenty of road feel and a smooth-riding suspension that feels stable and secure in the turns. Though the Touareg's all-wheel-drive system lacks a low range, its sophisticated programming gives it plenty of grip on non-paved surfaces, making the Touareg a surprisingly capable off-roader.

The Touareg is available in three trim levels: Sport (which now includes last year's Technology Package as standard), Wolfsburg Edition (formerly known as Lux) and Executive. All come with features we've come to expect from luxury-themed SUVs. Which one is best for you? Edmunds can help you find the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg that's a perfect fit.

What do people think of the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg SUV?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for
the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg SUV and all its trim types.
Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Touareg SUV
4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what
other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database.
Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior,
exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a
comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Touareg SUV.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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Should I lease or buy a 2017 Volkswagen Touareg?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you
that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make
higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand,
can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a
new car every three years or so.